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Member Management Software Evaluation Guide:Considerations for Associations and Chambers of CommerceReviewing Member Management SolutionsLet’s say you’ve reached the limit of what you can accomplish with off-the-shelf softwareand want to review purpose-built solutions for member management. Or maybe youhave an integrated system that’s lagging in functionality. If you are an association, youmay be reviewing AMS (Association Management Systems) whereas chambers typicallylook for chamber management software (CMS). Whether you are an association or achamber, selecting a software vendor can be a confusing and time-consuming effort.This document highlights and explains several important decision criteria to help narrowchoices and assist in uncovering the best match for your organization.Installation and SetupThere are two major ways in which software is delivered. The traditional method is torun an installation program on each PC and have it reside locally. The current method isSoftware as a Service (SaaS) or cloud computing where you simply login to a websiteand start using the software solution and tools.With over 72% of businesses running or piloting a cloud service1, it’s quickly becomingthe standard delivery platform for applications and services. Because the service is in thecloud2, your organization avoids the headache of operating a mini-data center andinstalling regular feature and security updates.A total web-based solution is usually preferred for associations and chambers as theretypically isn’t an IT staff to install and configure traditional software. SaaS allows users toaccess the software anywhere they have an internet connection using either Windows or1 Of the 527 business and technology executives that IBM surveyed in this study, almost three-fourths indicatedtheir companies had piloted, adopted or substantially implemented cloud in their organizations -- and 90 percentexpect to have done so in three years. While only 13 percent have substantially implemented cloud, this number isexpected to grow to 41 percent in three years. http://seekingalpha.com/article/889941-cloud-computing-technology-investment-strategy-ibm-microsoft-intel-oracle-amazon2 Wikipedia definition: Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that aredelivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). The name comes from the use of a cloud-shapedsymbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrustsremote services with a users data, software and computation. membership, marketing and website solutions www.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171

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iOS. Moving your organization to the cloud will save valuable time, give all your staffeasier access and save on per-seat licensing fees.Of course even with a SaaS model, you will still need to integrate your existing data intothe new system. The data integration process is an area where there may be significantdifferences among vendors. Make sure you ask to see an example of a comprehensiveproject plan with specific milestones, deadlines and clearly assigned roles andresponsibilities. Ideally your data integration project lead or manager should alwaysraise the bar by looking for ways to add further value to your data as they integrate andrepurpose it into your new system.Licensing Model and ROISoftware is traditionally licensed by the installation, the user, the features or version, theoverall capacity, or a variety of factors. Software can’t be fully valued if the license modelrestricts the number of users. Since associations have staff levels that fluctuate, makesure you understand the long-term cost implications of paying for each licensed user.Ask your vendor for an ROI analysis. If they claim their solution will save yourorganization time, try to get that quantified. Do they have a plan for how you couldoffset your monthly or annual software payments with modules or services for non-duesrevenue?New Releases / UpdatesMost traditional software companies provide one or two updates a year that you needto install on each PC. You may need to purchase these updates or pay for softwaremaintenance that entitles you to these updates.A SaaS company typically updates your software automatically every 1-2 months so youare able to take advantage of new features immediately and more frequently. As theseupdates are installed for you, there is no action on your part other than to login as younormally do.Software that is continually updated with new features will provide more value andprovide a path for your staff to grow and add to their skills as features are expanded.Ask your vendor how they rollout new features to customers. Do they have a solidcommunication process so major updates won’t take you by surprise? membership, marketing and website solutionswww.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171

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Open Access to DataWhen considering a SaaS company, care must be made as to where the data will reside,who owns the data, and how you get access to it.Make sure as part of your agreement with the provider that your association owns thedata, that you have an easy process to export it, and that they cannot use your datawithout your explicit permission.Disaster RecoveryIf your office caught fire, was flooded, or hit by another natural disaster would you beprepared? If your software is installed on local PCs you may be without yourmembership data and potentially a website for weeks. In the wake of tropical stormSandy, this is a very real concern.With a cloud service vendor you are up and running as soon as you find a laptop and aninternet connection. Do ask where their data centers are located and have them explaintheir disaster recovery processes.Ease-of-UseSoftware with thousands of features and benefits isn’t useful if too difficult to find anduse. In fact, recent studies show that most people only use a very small percentage ofthe software they purchase. This isn’t a problem with over-buying, but rather softwarewith a non-intuitive or outdated interface.Anyone on your staff should be able to use core pieces of functionality without hours oftraining. Adding a new member or updating an address should be simple and painless.Sit down with your staff and have the vendor walk your team through a 30-45 minutein-depth demonstration. Pay special attention to the navigation, naming conventions ofmenu items and general flow of the software. Make sure the vendor lists all the trainingand support options as well. After the demo, your staff can give you valuable feedbackon how they would rate the software and how quickly they will be able to learn and putthe new tool to use. membership, marketing and website solutionswww.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171

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ContractsWhen you select a vendor they typically will ask for a one, two, or even three yearcontract. Technology changes fast, especially in the software world. A company with agreat product now may be behind the curve and not serving your needs in two or threeyears.Select a vendor with favorable contract terms that you can get out of if they aren’tmeeting your needs. Ideally no contract would be required.TrainingNo matter how easy a software platform is, there invariably will be some users that mayneed additional training on more advanced features. The strongest software partner willprovide training via online videos, help files, instructor lead training and have an on-sitetraining program. The much of the training should be included in the price of thesoftware so that it’s easy for staff to get necessary information whenever they need it.Customer ServiceWhen problems arise you are going to want immediate, hassle-free assistance. With therise of companies that only provide support via a web-portal or email or outsourced callcenter, find out if the support you expect is what you will actually get. Everyone talksabout having great support and service but you will need to ask tough questions tolearn what’s really there.Verify the support options and costs are consistent with your expectations. Would youlike to be able to get someone on the phone easily? Do they have current testimonialsor references regarding their customer service? Are they tracking customer servicemetrics such as hold times? Are they using industry standard rating systems to measuretheir customer satisfaction?Search Engine OptimizationA great way to serve your members is to drive traffic to them. Yourbusiness/membership directory can contain a wealth of information, such asdescriptions of products and services, store hours, directions, special deals,photographs, and much more. This content can allow your organization to have the bestguide for potential customers. However the traffic to your site and to your members membership, marketing and website solutionswww.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171

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won’t be maximized if your vendor doesn’t have modules that are search-enginefriendly, or optimized for all the major search engines (SEO). Google alone makes over500 updates per year on search algorithms, so a search-savvy partner is a must.Have potential vendors explain how they are going to maximize your traffic throughsearch engine optimization and ask about their results.Mobile Application PlatformThere is a significant consumer trend around accessing the Internet using a mobiledevice. Recent studies indicate more people will access the internet from their mobiledevice instead of their PC sometime in 2013. This is up significantly from the prior year.To keep your members at the forefront you will need tools and technology that allowpeople to easily find your members on mobile devices.Ensure your vendor has a mobile platform and a clear path forward in this new andgrowing area.PartnershipsThe more value you can provide to your members the easier it becomes to grow andmaintain your membership base. The ideal partner will not just solve your day-to-daydata management issues but will be looking for opportunities to partner with others tobring your members other benefits.Check into who your vendor partners with and if they seem to be an “open” companythat will bring in new opportunities or if they are more “closed” and focused only ondata management. Do they have a list of top-tier 3rd party relationships? Integrationwith leading 3rd parties allows you to leverage the domain expertise of the 3rd party(such as Constant Contact for communications or VoterVoice for legislative issueengagement).Commitment to Your Association or ChamberIs your potential vendor involved in supporting your industry and a good corporatecitizen, or are they a company focused only on their short-term growth and profit?Ideally your vendor partners will be interested in your long term success and are activelyengaged in the industry. membership, marketing and website solutionswww.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171

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Ask your vendor how they support and create a better environment for your chamber ofcommerce or association.ABOUT MICRONETMicroNet, Inc. is a developer of software and networking services based in Nisswa, MN. Over 1400 chambers andassociations trust ChamberMaster and MemberZone from MicroNet with their member management, membermarketing and website needs. Our SaaS is built from the ground up to be the most comprehensive and easy-to-usemember management system, helping organizations save time through streamlining processes and automatingroutine tasks. With 14 modules spanning Billing, Communication, Social Media, Reporting, Mobile and more – you’llhave all the tools you need to run your organization smoothly. Importantly, the organization has a highly rankedcustomer service and support center dedicated to your success. Visit www.micronetonline.com for more information. membership, marketing and website solutionswww.micronetonline.com | www.chambermaster.com | www.memberzone.com | 800.825.9171